by elgarydaly under CC BY  with 

Pisa Italy

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If you haven’t been, you might not even realize that there is much more just in the compound of the Campo dei Miracoli, or the Field of Miracles. Also known as the Piazza del Duomo, this green expanse is where the cathedral is… Duomo in Italian…. And the Leaning Tower is the campanile (the bell tower) for the Duomo.

You’ll also see the beautiful Baptistry and the Camposanto Monumentale, the Monumental Cemetery. The whole complex is a dazzling architectural display in white marble. OK, maybe that tower was an architectural project gone wrong, but it does draw tourists.

The Piazza dei Miracoli (another name you may find on maps!) is a wide walled area at the heart of the city. If you’re driving in, you will drive through the city.

The city was in its heyday during the 12th and 13th centuries when it was a maritime power. There are many piazzas and churches dating from that time that are interesting to visit if you have time. It’s crammed full of historical monuments and buildings dating back hundreds of years.

The city declined after its fleet was defeated by the Genoese, and the River Arno started changing course, causing the harbor to silt in. Much of the center of the city has maintained its medieval appearance.

Pisa is also known as a lively university town. Along this academic train of thought, the city was the birthplace of Galileo Galilei, and though he moved with his family to Florence at a young age, he was a professor of mathematics at the university at one time in the late 16th century.

There are plenty of ways to get to the area. You can fly into the International Airport Galileo Galilei from most European cities. I think most tourists would take the train from Rome or Florence… or opt to drive as we did.

There are tourist shops and places to eat around the edges of the piazza… These are tourist places, but they can be expedient if you’re just passing through to see the Leaning Tower and Duomo. It’s a bad joke, but we still say we had pizza in the Pisa piazza…. Sorry (really, I am!) You can find more information about the area at the main tourist information office at the Piazza dei Miracoli.

If I seem to be concentrating on the Leaning Tower… that’s what most tourists do… and what we did. One trip we were taking friends on a whirlwind tour of France and Italy. We didn’t want them to miss this, so we drove into town, parked and told them they had two hours to see the Leaning Tower.

That’s an extreme… and somewhat embarrassing example, but our point is, whether your time is long or short, we think you should see Pisa and its Leaning Tower.

How big is your plane and why should you care? If you end up flying on regional jets, you’ll soon discover that airplane size matters for how much you can take, and sometimes how long the flight is. When you’re booking and packing for that trip, it pays to know ahead of time what you can expect. Not all airports are served by big Boeings or Airbuses.

You might expect to find smaller aircraft used for flying into and out of smaller cities, but in the U.S., feeder airlines that use those smaller jets may even make up half of the air traffic at the country’s biggest airports. In Europe, Australia and Asia, smaller jets are being used more and more for mid-distance flights that don’t draw a lot of passengers. Airplane size matters to the bottom line of the airlines.

The seat pitch and width (the distance between seats from front to back for legroom and how much room you have from armrest to armrest) is about the same in regional jets as it is in the larger planes, but the overall impression may be that you have less room because the plane itself is smaller… the ceilings are lower, and the aisle is narrower, the walls curve in closer.

It all may feel more cramped. If this would be uncomfortable for you or you just don’t want to deal with it, check to see if there is a full size jet serving the city you are flying to.

If it’s a long flight, bring food. Regional jet flights may be as long as four hours. OK… you can’t get free food on most of the major airlines in the U.S. now either, but most of them sell meals or at least snacks. Some flights on the smaller planes may not have food available.

Most of your normal size carry-on luggage will not fit in the overheads on these smaller jets. In Europe, Australia and other places, you will simply have to check your bag.

In the U.S. you have two options… Which you choose determines where to find your luggage at the end of the flight. One option is to take your carry-on to the gate where it will be “gate checked”. If you choose this option, the bag will be unloaded at your destination and returned to you on the ground next to the plane or in the jetway. If you choose to check your bag at the ticket counter, your bag will come up in baggage claim.

Remember that most regional jets are narrower, so they only have two and two seating or one and two. Some of them are small enough that there is no exit row. When you are choosing your seat, check to see what 3D is… It might not be an aisle… it could be a window seat.

Find out what kind of aircraft you are flying on so if you go online to choose a seat, you’ll know what it is you really want… not what you thought you wanted. Bottom line is…. with regional jets, airplane size matters.

Are you looking for travel ideas for a short break? Why not think about romantic weekends? Are you listening guys?

We’re just home from a romantic getaway, and all of my friends are saying that my hubby should give seminars to the other husbands… so I decided I should write about it, and give you some tips and ideas. Of course, we don’t have to lay all of this onto the guys… Ladies, you could plan a romantic weekend too. I mean, if he won’t, you might as well take matters into your own hands… maybe he’ll get the idea and plan the next one.

It doesn’t have to be Valentines Day or your wedding anniversary or even a birthday…. it can be a more obscure event… or even just a romantic weekend getaway for no particular reason. That could win you big points!

What was the event for our romantic weekend? We celebrated the anniversary of when my hubby proposed to me. We went out to dinner at a little restaurant where we used to go all the time… but we hadn’t been there in years. The next night we had a candle light dinner at home… then we drove to the spot where he actually proposed…. We picnicked there all those years ago, and that’s what we did this time too.

Anniversaries are always good for romantic interludes. Your wedding anniversary, for example, but it could be the anniversary of your proposal like ours was, or the anniversary of your first date, or the day you met or when you bought your house… anything.

Do you feel like you’re always doing something for the kids, and you never have any time for yourself? Don’t wait for a special event. Get someone to watch the kids, and have a weekend just for yourselves. Go wine tasting and stay in a romantic little B&B. Head for the city and see a play or visit a museum and stay in a historic hotel. Find a resort and spa where you can both get a little pampering.

Or do like we did… We found a rustic little cabin at a lodge close to the spot where he proposed. It wasn’t luxurious or expensive, but it did overlook the Pacific ocean; there was a little restaurant right there, and we had a wonderful sentimental weekend reminiscing about all the years we’ve had together.

You don’t even have to go away. If you get that weekend all to yourself with no kids, no obligations, just do something romantic locally. Go to a dinner and a movie. How about a champagne picnic?

You could have a candlelight dinner at home, but if you do that, remember, the cooking and cleanup duties need to be shared. Make them fun to do together…. this is a romantic weekend remember.

We do love travel, but you don’t always have to travel far away. We think even a weekend break like this can transport you out of your routine and refresh and revive you.

Oh, and what anniversary was it for us? Our 40th… and we’ll celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary next year. You can bet it will be a whole year of romantic travels!

Sea to Sky Highway From Vancouver

One way to explore this corner of Canada is to take the Sea to Sky Highway. You can use the city of Vancouver as a base to see the sights along this highway in a day, or you could make it a driving trip to explore for a couple of days.

Tours are an option, but we think getting a rental car is the way to go. This highway is a twisty, windy, and very scenic road with beautiful sights at almost every turn. “Sea to Sky Highway” is the name given to part of British Columbia Highway 99 starting just north of Horseshoe Bay about 12 miles (20 km) from Vancouver and taking you to Whistler.

Much of it is a two lane undivided highway running along cliffs and paralleling Howe Sound, but many improvements are being made, widening it and adding median barriers. Take it slow and easy…. first because you have to, second because you’ll want to… there are just so many places you’ll want to stop and admire the scenery. You could do the drive in two to three hours if you went straight through, but why would you want to?

What kind of sights are there to entice you to stop? Well, Horseshoe Bay right at the beginning is worth a look. It’s a charming little seaside village with shops and cafes. Once you leave Horseshoe Bay, you’ll be winding through the coastal old-growth rain forest, then the mountain regions of British Columbia.

For about half the drive you’ll be driving along Howe Sound which is really a deep ocean fjord. Drive along to Porteau Cove enjoying stunning coastal vistas. At nearby Brittannia Beach you can stop and tour the BC Mining Museum if that interests you.

On your way to Squamish, stop and take a 10 minute walk to Shannon Falls. At 1,100 feet (335 m) it’s one of the tallest waterfalls in Canada. The trail is steep but paved.

In the cute little city of Squamish itself, train buffs can visit the West Coat Heritage Railway Park. Squamish is an old mill town… now it’s a haven for outdoor activities and a good place to find a B&B, a rustic cabin, or a nice hotel so you can really explore.

Heading north, you’ll find a viewpoint where you can get a great view of the Tantalus Range before you pass through Garibaldi Provincial Park. You can stop in the park for hikes or picnics.

Check out Brandywine Falls… different from Shannon Falls… shorter but also pretty amazing. And then there is Whistler itself… famous as a ski resort and now for the 2010 Olympics, it’s worth a visit at any time of the year.

Canadians like to boast that the Sea to Sky Highway is one of the most beautiful and scenic drives you’ll find anywhere in the world. We’ve driven many scenic highways that can make this same claim, but we think the Canadians are right about this one!

Security Rules Change

Yes, security rules change from time to time. We were getting used to the rules that have been in place for the last several years, when, suddenly, there is another terrorist “incident”.

Someone has managed to get through the checks that have been implemented, and the security rules change… they have to change, because terrorist tactics change.

When this happens, it throws things into chaos for a few hours or days. The first time this happened to us was on 9/11…. yes, THE 9/11. We had just arrived in Nairobi, Kenya. We went ahead with our safari, but we knew when we flew home, the rules would be different.

The security rules changed again when someone tried to take a bomb onto a plane… now we were restricted to the size of liquids, creams, and gels we could take on the plane.

It’s happened again in December 2009. Explosives in your underwear? Be prepared for more searches.

Governments and officials move on security rule changes when they encounter these incidents.

You may not be allowed to carry on your luggage. That happened when we returned from Africa back in 2001, and it’s happened again recently with some airlines or governments restricting carry-on luggage on flights to the United States. As of this writing, there is no official rule change on this, but even temporary rules instituted by airlines must be obeyed.

You may have to remain in your seat for the last hour or half hour of your flight. That happened for a while flying into Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington DC. It happens when flying into Tel Aviv, Israel. It’s unclear if this recent change will remain or not.

The TSA says, “You may be asked to follow flight crew instructions such as stowing personal items, turing off electronic equipment… during certain portions of the flight.”

You may encounter more full-body scanning machines, and or “pat-downs” at security checkpoints.

You will see additional screening at the gates even after you have gone through airport security screening. This is especially true if you are flying on an international flight into the United States.

There is no telling how long new rules will stay in place. Security measures may be strengthen or loosened as officials figure out what works best. The only thing that is certain is that they will change…. as needed.

In these days of sometimes turbulent world events, travelers have to stay alert to what is going on around them. Just because that’s not the way it was last time you traveled…. even if it was only yesterday…. it may not be what you have to do today.

Just don’t say you’re never going to travel again. Travel is too important to us all. In the long run, we think travel brings us all closer together. Just stay aware of what is going on in the world, and if security rules change…. go with the flow.

Short term Voluntourism

I can hear you wondering… just what IS short-term voluntourism?

Volunteer vacations are becoming so popular, that the travel industry has coined a word for this kind of tourism. Now you can search the web for voluntourism and find hundreds of sites that provide travel with a heavy focus on volunteering.

Many of those programs have you signing up for a week or two or even a month working in your own country or abroad. But many travelers don’t have that kind of time to commit to volunteering, or they would like to volunteer to help, but they want to keep some relaxing time for themselves.

The travel industry is always looking for ways to keep you happy, so there are more and more opportunities cropping up for short-term voluntourism. Some people would argue that one week is short-term volunteering, but I’m talking about really short-term voluntourism here… as in a day or even half a day.

There are conservation organizations around the U.S. that provide opportunities to help clean up beaches or work on park trails for a day or half day at a time. Check with local tourist bureaus in the city or the country you are visiting to see if any short term opportunities exist. You can also check with your hotel or tour operator… some online travel booking sites offer volunteer trip opportunities.

Even high-end hotels and resorts are getting into the act, offering half day programs where guests assist at local food banks or pull invasive weeds in parks…. but still get to spend the rest of their stay in cushy comfort.

Some people feel that this type of short term volunteering is this just salve for a guilt trip by “wealthy” travelers. You have to evaluate that for yourself. We don’t think anyone should be discouraged from volunteering to help others. In the long run, the trend is a good one.

If you are traveling to Southeast Asia, one interesting program you can explore for short-term voluntourism is called Stay Another Day. It is run by an arm of the World Bank. Rather than sending tourists to volunteer to pick up trash or try to build schools, it provides information to steer you to participate in activities that are more like tourism, but benefit the local community.

You might, for instance, visit a community center where locals can practice their English, or you might visit a women’s center where you can purchase crafts the women make to support themselves and their families. You still are really just a tourist, but the very act of being a tourist and spending money and time with locals helps…. that sounds good to me!

Wherever you travel, you can have a more meaningful trip by connecting with locals. Support local businesses and local community projects if you can. Short-term voluntourism is just one more way to enrich your travel experience.

WALKING IN CRETE

Crete, The biggest of all Greek Islands, covers an expanse of about 3,220 square Mls.

Walking in Crete is growing in popularityfor being an activity holiday location, a result of the islands mountainous geography. The White Mountains in western Crete provide amazing views.

It is possible to walk in Crete anytime of the year.

The island of Crete features plateaus like Lassithi, Omalos and Nida. Besides caves to discover like Ideon and Dikti, and numerous gorges, contributing to Crete’s impressive scenery.

Crete certainly is at its finest in the springtime, once the island possesses an abundant covering of wild plants. Over 2 000 species of flowers bloom over the island, 150 of these being endemic.

The entire island, featuring its mountains, woodland, plateaus and gorges, even the seashore gets a covering of wild flowers. Daisies, irises, Poppies, orchids, oleander and hyacinths are sure to be seen when you’re walking Crete. Wild mountain herbs scent the air using pungent aromas, rosemary, sage, thyme, oregano, and of course the Cretan love herb dittany.There are various levels of walking in Crete down to its unique panorama. Chania and the adjoining area is extraordinary in spring, it boasts beautiful scenery.
Towards the south of Chania you can find The Samaria Gorge. The gorge is unique, it includes vertical cliffs 500m high and it’s also an astonishing 16km long. Within the gorge you will observe and smell the rare different kinds of Cretan flora, cypress trees, dittany as well as other herbs. The gorge is additionally the place to find the wild goat of Crete, (kri kri).

Additional gorges within the area that you may choose to visit are Agia Irene, Stakia and Topolia gorges. Topolia is really a impressive and radically wild gorge, and Agia Irene is abundant with lush vegetation.

These gorges are spectacular during the spring, and also the scenery is significantly prettier once the wild flowers are in bloom.

The highlight from the Chania area would be the White Mountains, with their rugged grey peaks, veined along with the white contrasting stone, endemic wildflowers and wispy cloud topped snowy peaks.

Nonetheless it is its not all mountain walks, you can also discover the many caves that are to be found along the shoreline, or perhaps take a peaceful walk along the beach, experiencing the balmy water lapping at your feet, also sand in between your toes.

Villa In Crete

Nowadays, it is possible to afford luxury villa in Crete wherein you can spend a holiday vacation that can fit your budget without compromising the quality experience.

If you are embarking on a holiday to Crete, you definitely should seriously consider renting a luxury villa in Crete so that you can have the most comfortable place to relax after an exhausting day of touring.

One such luxury villa in Crete is Sophia’s House, that is located close to the traditional village of Aspro, near Almyrida, a very pretty seaside village. The villa will treat you to the majestic view of Souda Bay, of which is the Mediterranean’s largest natural harbour. Some other comforts in your villa are a garden filled with various fruits and grape vines, private pool,3 double bedrooms, an expansive roof terrace or shaded patio, if you’d like to watch the sun set or rise.

You can also gain access to all home appliances, very well equipped kitchen, and full air-conditioning.

At the conclusion of the day, you can convene at the lounge area in which you can enjoy watching television or DVDs, read from a selection of books, or even play games.

An important feature about the actual rental price will be that it applies to the entire villa, and doesn’t count each person that occupies it, which usually is the case with hotel accommodations.

The actual villa offers incomparable comfort from any hotel because you get to delight in your personal space and a feeling of peace for the stress-free vacation.

As with most hotels, the villa is also equipped with an English speaking team, on hand locally should you need them. Unlike many holiday reps that are included with the common holiday package tour, these people are dedicated to genuinely carrying out full customer support.

The Tavernas within the local areas present their food at affordable prices nevertheless if you want to spend some intimate time indoors, you could choose to cook making use of local food sources with the completely functional kitchen area in the villa.

To make it handy for you to get around town and easily access beaches in Almyrida as well as other interesting sites, then it is recommended you rent a car so you can easily reach any destination .

For those culturally inclined individuals, make sure you visit the Minoan ruins at Knossos and the well known island of Spinalonga. Reaching the island of Santorini could take typically two hours by Sea cat but will be an unforgettable day out.

Sophia’s House is simply one of various other luxurious villas in Crete that offer you a place of refuge after having a day of visiting and recreation.